Footwear



Aug. 1o, 1926. y 1,595,312

' W. G. O BRIEN FOOTWEAR Filed July 5l, 1922 VMERNEY Patented -ug. l0, v1926.

UNITED STTE'S PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. OIBRIEN, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR'TO THE GOODYEAR TIRE & `:RUBBER COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

roorwm application mea my s1, ma serm 1ro. 578,744.

My invention relates to foot-wear and it has particular relation to a substitute for the ycommonly 'used leather shoe. The object of my invention is to provide a material 5 which is both porous and water-resistant, which maybe molded to the desired shape and size, and which shall be particularly adaptable for the construction of both the uppers for shoes iand for entirely 'unitary Heretofore it has been customary to make shoes either entirely of leather, or with the upper portion' vthereof composed of leather. Certain leather substitutes have` been exerimented with, particularly for soles.

enerally speaking, these substitutes were objectionable because of' they fact thatv they were non-porous. The success of leather` as a material for constructin shoes results principally from the fact t at it is porous but wete -resistant, which permits of the evaporation of perspiration from the foot of the wearer, but preventsA the admission of moisture thereto. vThose substitutes for leather which have beenproposed, heretofore, have not been porous, thus preventing the evaporation of perspiration from the foot and rendering the wearer uncomfortable, as well as producing an unhealthy condition of By myl invention I have obviated the aforementioned' objection by providing a tough, flexible, .water-resistant material of ood vgrhich can be made to resemble leather to such degree that even an ex rt cannot determine withcertainty whet er lor not it is leather. In the accompanying drawings-z moldm'. machine, which operates on 4the principleof the Drake process, adapted for theconstruction of shoes;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a machine onl v c 3 'is avery much enlarged view of the material which I employ in constructingv shoes; and

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of afscreen adapted'to produce la flat lece of materlal of a predetermined size an shape.

In practicing my invention I have found that the best results may be obtained in the 5 following manner. A quantity of fibers,

wearing qualities which is porous and Fi 1 is a view in side elevation of a adapted for the constructionA of shoe uppers.

in the desired shape and steam is then emwhich maybe of wood, hem jute, leather, wool, cotton, asbestos, or the like, is thorough- 1 ly beaten, usually in' a beater of the Holland type, so as to separate the various fibers thereof. The libers are then removed from the liquid in which they arebeaten and if beaten inwater, this must be removed either by displacement with alcohol or with a mixture of alcohol and water. The bers are then thoroughly dispersed in a quantit of liquid composed of approximately 7% toluoly and 23% alcohol. While I have referred to the li uid as beiner composed of a mixture of toluo and alcohol; it m1 ht equal- Y lyy well be composed of benzol anv acetone, the essential feature being that the liquids be miscible and that one be a solvent of rubber and the other a precipitant thereof.'

A. quantity of ru ber, dissolved in toluol, is then added to the mixture and thorou lilyA dispersed therein. The best results wilordinaril be obtained Vby having the quantity of rubble/r and that of liber approximately equal in weight, and each equal to from 1/2 to 2% of the weight of the combined liquids. The solution is then so treated as to brin about precipitation of the rubber on the bers. This may be accomplished either by-'the addition of alcohol, or some other suitable recipitating agent, to the mixture, or by ucin the temperature of the mixture'to a suita le point. f

The pliquid, having the rubber coated fibers suspended therein, may now be treated in an one of several-different ways to secure the esired final result. It may be laced in a pulp moldi machine of the rake type, disclosed in atent No. 1,305,203, and as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. In this figure 'the screen mold conforms to the sha vofthe shoe which it is desired td bu' d, or it may conform only to the shape of the shoe upper, as illustrated in Fig. 2. By means of compressed air, suitably directed, the yfibers are arranged in -a matted formation for a more detailed description of my invention, a tank 4 is provided with a. downwardly extending portion 5, which is provided with a hose connection 6 and a valve mechanism 7. The lower end of the portion 5 of the member 4 is provided with an extension 8 in the form of a pipe, the lower end of which is externally" threaded. The member 5 is also provided with a flange 9 which serves to support a screen mold 10, of any dey sired configuration. In Fig. l the screen`r` mold conforms to the shape of an entire shoe. In threaded engagement with the lower end of the portion 8 is a member 11, which may be adjusted vertically so as to permit of) regulation of the air pressure striking the bottom of the shoe.` y

The container 4 is normally filled with the pulp from which it is desired to make the shoe. Upon o cning the valve 7, a quantity of' the pulp escends through the portions 5 and 8 to the bottom of the screen mold 10. The valve 7 is then closed and compressed air lis admitted to the member 8 by means of the` air connection 6. By suitably controllin thepressure of the air, the distribution o the ulp may be regulated at will, particular y .as to thickness,

as described'more fully 1n the Drake patent previously mentioned. The pulp is spread, by means of the compressed air, into a layer. of any ,desired thickness which covers the inside of the screen 10.- After' the pulpV has been suitablydistributed by the compressed air, heated air is admitted through the connection 6, which dries the product while it is still attached to the-mold 10. The rubber is then cured by any suitable method.

The mold must be so made as to be readi-I ly opened to remove'the shoe form. This will usually beperformed b having the two halves of the screen hinge together at one side and adapted to separate along the remaining edges.

In Fi 2 I show a structure very similar to t at lshown in Fig. 1 except that the pressure adjusting member 11 is replaced by an adjusting member 12 of a shape corresponding to some extent, to that of the shoe, which 1t is believed'will aid in the proper distribution of the pulp therein. Also, the bottom of the screen is provided with a solid memberl3 which prevents` the deposition of `pulp thereon since,A air cannot pass therethrough. The structure shown in Fig. 2 is adapted for the formation of a shoe upper only, whereas that shown in Fig. 1 is' adapted for the construction of the entire shoe.

Fig. 3 is a 'view representing, as nearly as it can be drawn, the material which I employ for making shoes. It will be noted from this fieure'tha't the various rubber coated fibers become thoroughly intertwined thereon.

mesma of the individual fibers depends upon the size of the original fibers placed in the solution, and

on the amount o rubber deposited The -dimensions of the interstices between the bers depend to a large extent upon the pressure by which the material has .been compressed during manufacture. Theinterstices between the fibers are indicated quite clearlyin Fig. 3.,I

Another method of treating the fibers after they have vbeen coated with rubber and are still in suspension in the liquid, consists of screenin them from the liquid through a fiat or ot erwise suitabl shaped screen, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of t e drawings in such manner vas to provide a uniformly thick matted formation. In Fig. 4

is illustrated a screen 14 mounted upon a.

skeleton framework 15 and of the exact contour of. the upper of a shoe. The screen 14 is fiat and when properly operated produces a mat of the desired size andshape, thus eliminating the waste incident to cutting irregularly shaped designs from dat sheets .of material. y employed, it is hi hly desirable that the quantity of fibers ge very small compared to the total quantit of the liquids in which they are suspende so that when strained therefrom, the fibers may assume their natural position with respect to each other, which provides avery good matted formation. The mat forme on the screen is washed, and cured in the usual manner.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that I have provided a method of formin a leather substitute which lwill perform a l of the functions of leather, and which may be made of any desired shape and When this method isv thickness. 'This eliminates the waste rwhich strained from a liquid, or b being deposited on'the screen by means o compressed air, that numerous minute interstices will occur between the fibers, the sine and number of which depends upon the method of finishing the material. When properly formed, these 'openings are of such dimensions that liquid cannot readily pass therethrough, but the material permits diffusion of gas and air.

fGenerally, I have found it advisable to give the composition a wax finish, which improves the appearance thereof and increases the surface tension of any water which may be' deposited thereon, thereby aiding in rendering the composition Water-resistant.

' The Wax finish also improves the appearance the art that it is lnot so limited but thatvarious minor modifications and changes may be made therein Without departing from the spirit of my invention, or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A molded shoe uppercomposed of a porous Water-resistant synthetic composition ot uninterrupted texture of fiber and rubber.

2. A molded shoe upper composed of a porous Water-resistant material of uninterrupted texture including rubbervcoated fibers ulllnfornily distributed in matted relations 1p.

3. An article of manufacture comprising a molded shoe composed of a porous Waterresistant material of uninterrupted texture including rubber having fibers dispersed therein intertwined with each other provided with a wax finish. l

4. A-molded shoe comprising a Water resistant body portion of rubber coated uni` formy distributed matted fibers, porous to air and vapor and of uniform thickness throughout..

In Witness whereof, I signed my.name.

WILLIAM G.. OBRIEN.v

have hereunto 

